Arguments Quiz

8 Questions | By Dealyjustins | Updated: Sep 15, 2015 | Attempts: 526

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Questions and Answers

1.

An argument is valid if and only if
- A.
  
  It is possible for the conclusion to be false.
- B.
  
  It is impossible for the premises to all be true if the conclusion is false.
- C.
  
  It is possible for the premises to all be true if the conclusion is false.
- D.
  
  It is impossible for the premises and conclusion to be false.
Correct Answer
B. It is impossible for the premises to all be true if the conclusion is false.

Explanation
Valid arguments are arguments where the truth of the premises would absolutely guarantee the truth of the conclusion.

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2.

An argument is sound if and only if
- A.
  
  The premises are all true and the argument is inductive.
- B.
  
  The premises are all plausible and the conclusion is secure
- C.
  
  The premises are all true and the conclusion is true as well.
- D.
  
  The premises are all true and the argument is valid.
Correct Answer
D. The premises are all true and the argument is valid.

Explanation
Sound arguments prove their conclusions. (1) They're valid, so it is impossible for their conclusion to be false if the premises are all true. AND (2) their premises ARE in fact all true.

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3.

All dogs are friendly.Arno is a dog.Therefore, Arno is friendly.This argument is...
- A.
  
  Valid
- B.
  
  Invalid
- C.
  
  Both
- D.
  
  Neither
Correct Answer
A. Valid

Explanation
If the premises are true, then the conclusion has to be true.

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4.

If the bus is late, then I can't get to work on time.I can still make it to work on time.Therefore, the bus isn't late.
- A.
  
  Valid
- B.
  
  Invalid
- C.
  
  Both
- D.
  
  Neither
Correct Answer
A. Valid

Explanation
Valid. This one can be tricky to see. The first premise is an IF-THEN statement, and if that statement as a whole is true, then when the THEN part of that statement is false, the IF part has to be false as well.

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5.

Every baseball player on the team is over six feet tall.Only people over six feet tall are in my history class.Therefore, every baseball player on the team is in my history class.This argument is...
- A.
  
  Valid
- B.
  
  Invalid
- C.
  
  Both
- D.
  
  Neither
Correct Answer
B. Invalid

Explanation
It is consistent with the premises that there are people other than baseball players who are over six feet tall. So, the premises are consistent with the possibility that some of those people are in my history class, and not all of the baseball players are.

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6.

If Keisha is at home, then she is not at work.Keisha is not at work.Therefore, Keisha is at home.
- A.
  
  Valid
- B.
  
  Invalid
- C.
  
  Both
- D.
  
  Neither
Correct Answer
B. Invalid

Explanation
This is a type of fallacy; it might look valid, but on consideration we can see why it isn't. It is consistent with the first premise that Keisha can be some place other than work or home. In general, if the THEN part of a true IF-THEN statement is true, that doesn't necessarily mean the IF part is true as well.

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7.

If the sun is the size of a walnut, then physics is a lie.If physics is a lie, then there is some kind of conspiracy.Therefore, if the sun is the size of a walnut, there is some kind of conspiracy.This argument is...
- A.
  
  Valid
- B.
  
  Invalid
- C.
  
  Both
- D.
  
  Neither
Correct Answer
A. Valid
8.

The sun is a star.Therefore, the sun is a star.This argument is...
- A.
  
  Invalid
- B.
  
  Sound but Invalid
- C.
  
  Sound
- D.
  
  Unsound but Valid
Correct Answer
C. Sound

Explanation
The premise is true, and the conclusion has to be true if the premise is true!

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Current Version
Sep 15, 2015

Quiz Edited by
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Sep 15, 2015

Quiz Created by
Dealyjustins

Arguments Quiz

An argument is valid if and only if

An argument is sound if and only if

All dogs are friendly.Arno is a dog.Therefore, Arno is friendly.This argument is...

If the bus is late, then I can't get to work on time.I can still make it to work on time.Therefore, the bus isn't late.

Every baseball player on the team is over six feet tall.Only people over six feet tall are in my history class.Therefore, every baseball player on the team is in my history class.This argument is...

If Keisha is at home, then she is not at work.Keisha is not at work.Therefore, Keisha is at home.

If the sun is the size of a walnut, then physics is a lie.If physics is a lie, then there is some kind of conspiracy.Therefore, if the sun is the size of a walnut, there is some kind of conspiracy.This argument is...

The sun is a star.Therefore, the sun is a star.This argument is...